Feeder tap



Sept. l5, 1931. H. P. CHANDLER 1,822,883

FEEDER TAP Filed Oct. 17, 1929 v A ttor ne y Patented Sept. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOMER P. CHANDLER, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGN'OIR.` TO THE OHIO BRASS COMPANY,

' OF MANSFIELD, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY FEEDER TAP Application led October 17, 1929. Serial No. 400,368.

My invention relates to feeder taps for temporarily connecting a cable to a source of current supply and is particularly useful around mines where the machinery is portable and is more or less in constant change of position, although it may be used for other purposes.

The object of my invention is to provide a fused connector between the cable and the source of supply and in which the fuse is easily renewable and the whole construction simple and economical.

My'ini-'ention resides in the new and novel construction, combination and relation of the various elements hereinafter described and shown in the drawings accompanying this specification.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal view in partial section of my invention.

Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are transverse sections on the lines 2, 3, 4 and 5 of section 1, respectively.

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of a single end of the fuse member.

As hereinafter shown, my inventionrcomprises atubular portion 1 formed of insulating material. preferably of fibers impregnated with phenol condensation product, one grade of which is known in the trade as bakelite, although what is termed fiber, Which consists of chemically treated paper wound upon itself, may be used.

The inner surface of both ends of the member 1 are threaded to receive plugs. The

plug at one end is adapted to receivel a cable and comprises al metallic member 2 formed preferably of copper and having a threaded portion to engage with the threads of the member 1. The plug is provided with a longitudinal passage 3 through which the cable 4 extends and which is secured to a portion 5 of the metal plug by means of a clamp 6 held by the screw 7. One end of the plug 2 is provided with a cup-shaped portion 8 having slotted walls, permitting the walls to yield in relation to the end of the fuse 9.

One end of the plug 2 is provided with an insulated cap 10 in threaded relation and held against rotation by means of the pin 11. The

inner end of the cap 10 is arranged to abut against the end of the tube 1 and when the plug is secured in place with some little efl fort, the friction with the member 1 will be found sufficient to prevent rotation under normal use.

The cable 4 has an insulating covering 12 which extends into the cup 10 through the passage 13, thereby preventing contact of the operator with the cable 4.

Another plug comprises a metal member 14 preferably of copper, having threaded relation with the member 1, and secured to the member 14 is an insulating disc or collar 15 in threaded relation and prevented from rotating by means of the interlocking plug 16. The member 14 has an axially formed recess 17 partially or entirely therethrough to receive the hook 18 or other means of connection to a cable. The member 18 is secured in position by means of the set screw 19. As the recess 17 extends partially through the member 14, then it is quite impossible for the member 18 to be displaced inwardly. One end of the member 14 is provided with a cupshaped portion having a slotted Wall 20 to receive. an end of the fuse 9.

The member 14 is provided withan annular groove 21 which is connected to atmosphere through the passage 22 and as the inner end of the member 14 is of less diameter than the interior diameter of the member 1, a space 23 is provided which communicates with the annular groove 21 thereby forming an outlet from the interior of the member 1 to atmosphere to relieve any sudden and excessive pressure which may be formed Within the member blowing of the fuse 9.

It will be noted that a space 24 is provided between the end of the member 1 and the washer 15, which permits the positive end engagement between the plugs and the fuse 9, as well as a side engagement of the fuse ends with the walls 8 and 20.

My invention is also provided with an outer member 25 of soft rubber which I find provides a better hand grip for the operator than the member 1 and may be so positioned with respect to the member 1 that the mem ber 15 will invariably engage the end there- 1 through the A of as the member is yielding under pressure of the member' 15. Also the joints are better sealed and the device is subject to less injury when dropped.

The fuse 9 comprises a tubular member 30 of insulating material and closed at each end by means of a metal cap 31. The fuse link 32 is positioned within the member 30 and its ends secured to the end caps 31 as by extending through a slot in the end of the members 31 and being soldered thereto. The interior of the member is preferably filled with a non-combustible material 33 such as asbestos or other inert materials.

. Devices of a character of my invention have been made in which the fuses have fiat projecting tongues and therefore must be secured to the end plugs either by means of screws or interlocked relation, which prevents relative rotation of the fuse member with respect to the plugs, but I nd that with my form of fuse and-fuse connection that assembly of the device and replacement of fuses is materially facilitated, and to assemble the device as in replacing a fuse, it is only necessary to remove the plug 14 with its attached parts by rotation and then to Withdraw the defective fuse 9, providing it does not remain'attached to the plug 14, and then insert in the member 1 a new fuse member 9 and then replace the plug 14 through a mere act of rotation.

It will be noted that if there is any tendency for the cable 4 to twist and if the tenden cy is sufficiently strong, it may overcome the friction between the plugs and the member 1, thus permitting a relative rotation of the parts and an adjustment thereof to relieve the twisting strain upon the cable 4, and this adjustment of the parts may be accomplished without breaking or destroying the lconnection of the plugs with the fuse 9.

The flash due to the blowing of the fuse element 32 is confined by the insulating tubes 30 and 1, but should the flash be exceedingly severe'so as to rupture the member 30, the

flame will be confined by the insulating tube 1 and will be prevented from extending to the atmosphere due to its being confined, but the member 1 will be prevented from rupture through the passage from the interior of the `member 1 to atmosphere, thus allowing the gases to escape and relieve the pressure without permitting the fiame to actually reach the exterior of the device. This will permit the use of the device. in mines where ,the air is more or less charged with infiammable gases.

It is evident that one plug may be fixed relative to the member 1 since the other end is rotatable relative to the fuse. The plugs may rotate rela-tive to the fuse terminals through several revolutions without effecting the contact to a dangerous degree.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. A feeder tap comprising an insulating tubular member, plug members closing each end, inwardly projecting means from each plug forming cup-shaped projections to receive and en age the ends of a fuse, a fuse within the tubular member comprising an insulating tube with caps closing the ends 'and connected by a fusible strip within the insulating tube,l the caps inserted in the cupshaped projections in rotatable relation thereto, means to connect one plug to a source of power and means to connect the other plug to a table, and one of the plugs having means forming a passage from the interior of the said insulating tubular member to the exterior thereof to prevent excessive pressure within the member.

2. A feeder tap comprising an insulating tubingof fibrous material impregnated with a waterproofing material, contact plugs closing each end and connected by a fuse, means on one plug to connect to a conductor and means on t-he other plug to'receive a cable, one plug having a part butting against the end of the tubing, a tubular covering of soft rubber outside the insulatingr` tubing and overlapping the abutting joint-between the insulating tubing and one of the plugs and the'other plug butting against an end of the -soft rubber covering.

3. A feeder tap comprising an insulating casing, metallic plugs at each end, means to attach a cable to one plug and a connecting member lsecured to the other plug by concealed means for engagement with a conductor, each plug provided with walls forming a cup to receive the end caps of a fuse in rotative relation and means forming a passage from the interior of the casing to the atmosphere and part of said means being formed by a passage between the plug and adjacent insulating portion. f

4. A feeder tap comprising an insulating casing, metallic plugs at each end of the casing, means to attach a cable to one plug and a detachable connecting hook-shaped member secured to the other plug and projecting axially therefrom for engagement with a conductor, each plug provided with walls forming a cup to receive the end caps of a fuse in rotative relation, the walls of the cups being slotted to yieldingly grip the sides of the fuse end caps.

5. A fuse holder comprising an insulating casing of tubular formation and having its ends internally threaded; a closing device at one end comprising a metal member threaded externally and a cap of insulating material threaded upon a portion of the said member andencl'osing an end thereof with a passage to receive a conductor and means on the member toconnect and disconnect the conductor at will and` a spring cup portion to receive a fuse end; a closing device at the other end comprising a metal member ends positioned within the cup shaped portion.V

12. A feeder tap comprising an insulating casing, metallic members at each end of the 5 casing, means to hold the members against displacement relative to thecasing, means to attach a cable to one member, an opening in the other member, a metallic connector having one end detachably secured in the said opening and projecting endwise from the casing and having means on the projecting part to receive a conductor, means detachably securing the said connector and member together, each member provided with yielding Walls forming a cup to receive the end caps of a fuse and grip the sides of the said caps in rotative relation and a fuse comprising an insulating tube with metallic caps at each end connected by a fusible element connecting the said cups.

13. A' feeder tap plug for a casing comprising a portion having an external thread, a cup portion spaced from the threaded portion and having yielding Walls, aconnecting part holding the said portions in fixed relation, means on the connecting part to grip and hold a cable thereto; an insulating cap mounted on the iirst said portion by a threaded connector, means to prevent relative rotation of the cap and threaded portion and openings throu h the cap and threaded portion for a cable to pass. a

In testimon whereof I afix my-.signature.

v OMER P. CHANDLER.

50 member having ica threaded externally and having a spring cup portion to receive a fuse end and an axiall formed recess to receive a detachable hoo shaped member and a transversely disposed means to secure the hook shaped member in place and concealed by the casing; and a A soft rubber sleeve extending over the outer side surface of the casing.

6. A feeder tap comprising an insulating casing of tubular formation and threads 'at itsends; a closing device at one end of the casing comprising a metal member having a -threaded portion to engage with aforesaid threads to close one end of the casing and a cup shaped insulating member secured to the metal member and enclosing one end thereof and having an axial opening therethrough to receive a cable and a cup shaped portion on the metal member to receive a fuse end and a securing portion between the threaded land cup sha-pedand means to secure the connector in the recess; and a fuse having its ends Within the said cup shaped ortions to electrically connect the vclosing devices. f v

7. A feeder tap comprising an insulated ytubular casing'having one end closed and a metallic connecting member having one end projecting from tht.` said closed end and-having means thereon to connect to a conductor and the other end projecting into said casing and having a metallic member detachably V secured to the concealed end and a cup shaped portion on the metallic member to 45 receive a fuse end; a closing device at the other end of the casing detachably secured thereto and having a concealed metal member and an insulatmg portion to enclose one end of the metal member, and the metal a threaded portion for attachment to t e casing and a cup shaped portion spaced apart but electrically and mechanically connected by a portionhaving means thereon to secure a cable thereto and registering openings in the threaded portion and the insulating portion .through which the cable may pass; and a fuse member of the enclosed type positioned in the said cup shaped portions to connect the'same. 8.'A fused tap comprising an elongated tubular -member of ,insulating material; a closing device at oneI end of the casing and a hook shaped member projecting outwardly from said closing device and having means at one of its ends to receive a fuse end; a

closing device for the other end comprising a metallic member having a cap member of insulating material secured thereto and enclosing one end thereof and one of its end faces spaced from the end face of the metallic member and a portion of' the metallic member having a flattened surface and means to secure a cable end thereto and having means at its end to receive a fuse end and passages through the cap member and a part of the metallic member to pass a' cable; and fuse connecting the receiving means there 9. A feeder tap device comprising an insulating casing, metallic members ."t each end of the casing, a connecting element secured to one metallic member and projecting therefrom With means on the projectling portion to connect to a bare conductor,

the other metallic member secured in place relative to the casing by a threaded' connection, an insulating cap lixedly secured to the last said member against relative rotation thereto and means on the said member to secure a cable thereto and a passage through 90 the cap for the cable to pass, each metallic member having a cup shaped portion to receive the ends of a fuse in rotatable relation.

l0. A feeder tap device comprising aT insulating casing, metallic members at each end of the casing, a connecting element :ecured to one metallic member and projecting therefrom with means on the projecting portion to connect to a bare conductor, the other metallic member secured in place relative to the casing by a threaded connection, an insulating cap fixedly secured to the last said member against relative rotation thereto and means on the said member to secure a cable thereto and a passage through the cap for the cable to pass, each metallic member having means to contact vWith the metallic ends of an enclosed fuse and one of said means beingcup shaped to receive one of the'fuse ends in relative rotation thereto.

11. A feeder tap comprising an insulating casing, metallic members at each end of the casing, a connecting element detachably secured to one metallic member, means positioned Within the casing to holdv the connecting element to the said metallic member, the connecting element projecting from .the casing and Vmeans 'on the projecting portion to connect to a 'bare conductor, a threaded connection holding the other metallic member in place relative to the casing; 'an insulating cap secured at one end of the casing to protect the metallic member at that end and means on the said member to hold a cable thereto and a passage through the cap for the cable to pass, each metallic member having a cup shaped portion to receive the ends of a fuse and an enclosed fuse having metallic ends connected by a fuse element and having its metallic 

